City applies de-icing liquid on city streets

The City of Mercer Island Maintenance Department’s new “de-icing” system got its inaugural use during the frigid days of December last month. The City Council authorized the purchase of the $12,000 system earlier this year in preparation for severe winter weather such as the 2008 snow storm. The system adds a “new first line of defense” with an ice-preventive liquid that is applied to roads before freezing begins. Heavy ice resulting from major winter storms will still require the use of sand and salt. About 16 miles of Island roadways have been identified for de-icing. To view de-icing routes, as well as information about snow removal, please visit www.mercergov.org/WinterRoads.

Parking laws change for Town Center

A new city ordinance has re-aligned parking in the major Town Center areas to better meet the needs of Island shoppers. The north side of S.E. 28th Street, between 78th Avenue S.E. and 80th Avenue S.E., was restriped, and many parking spaces in the core of the Town Center have been changed from “Permit Only” parking to “Two-Hour Limit.” Now that there has been some time to get used to the changes, parking enforcement begins this month. Residents, customers and commuters should pay attention to signage when parking on the street in these areas. Questions or concerns can be directed to Nick Afzali, transportation manager, at 275-7704, or Joyce Trantina at 275-7720.

South-end sewage line clogged again

Once again, a serious “grit buildup” has clogged a South-end sewage line, causing a few thousand gallons of sewage to spill into Lake Washington. City workers spent hours on Saturday and Sunday working to unclog the pipeline. It is the second clog to overflow this sewage line in two months.

A big contributor of sewage-pipe backup is when residents dump cooking fats, oils and greases down the drain. Indeed, this was part of the cause in both last weekend’s clog and the Nov. 14 overflow, according to City Communications Coordinator Joy Johnston.

The city wants to remind the public to please refrain from dumping cooking fats, oils and other greasy substances down kitchen drains.

“As soon as hot water with fats, oils and grease hits cold water, it coagulates. The grease adheres to other grease and gets bigger until it obstructs the pipe — just like a clogged artery,” City Maintenance Director Glenn Boettcher told the Reporter earlier this year.

The city also wants to remind waterfront owners to purchase backwater valves in order to prevent sewage overflow such as last weekend’s from surcharging into their home plumbing systems. If a resident is unsure whether he already has a backflow device, he can always call a plumber to find out.

For more information, call Joy Johnston at 275-7791.

City hires new parks and recreation director

The city of Mercer Island has a new Parks and Recreation director. City Manager Rich Conrad announced last month that Tukwila Parks and Recreation Director Bruce Fletcher would join Mercer Island staff on Feb. 1. The position was vacated by Pete Mayer in February 2009 and has been since filled by interim Manny Ocampo.

Fletcher was chosen out of more than 100 applicants in a competitive recruitment process. He has 25 years of parks and recreation experience, including the last nine years as Tukwila’s parks and recreation director.

“In selecting Bruce, the interview panel and I were particularly impressed by his professionalism, knowledge of parks and recreation issues and trends, his passion for the profession, his presentation skills and his sense of calm and good humor,” explained Rich Conrad. “In short, everyone believed he would be a great fit for Mercer Island.”

In previous jobs, Fletcher has served as Tukwila’s assistant parks and recreation director and in various recreation-related roles for the city of Olympia and Evergreen State College. The new hire has a Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation services and physical education from Central Washington University, and he currently serves as president of the Washington Recreation and Parks Association.

Current Development Services Director Steve Lancaster recently accepted an offer to serve as city administrator for Tukwila, starting on Jan. 19, 2010. Ocampo, who is currently serving as interim parks and recreation director, will serve as interim development services director while the city undertakes a recruitment process for that position.

Hours cut at county transfer stations to save money

As a cost-saving measure, King County plans to change operating hours at five of its eight solid waste transfer stations early next year. “Since 2007, the Solid Waste Division has seen a decrease of approximately 15 percent in the amount of waste brought to its transfer facilities, along with a corresponding decrease in revenue to operate our solid waste transfer and disposal system,” said Solid Waste Division Director Kevin Kiernan.

Hours at the Factoria transfer station at 13800 S.E. 32nd St., Bellevue, are:

Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Hours at the Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off are:

Tuesday-Friday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.